Jennifer Liston, of the 3100 block of Old Gate Road, Madison, Wis., was involved in a minor hit-and-run accident in Geneva soon before the accident in the 42W700 block of Route 38, Hoffman said.

A Kane County Sheriff's deputy reportedly saw Liston's car traveling on Route 38 at Bricher Road. The deputy tried to stop her but ended the pursuit because she was driving too recklessly, Hoffman said.

Liston was passing a car at about 8:45 p.m. when she hit an eastbound 2002 Pontiac Grand Am head-on, Hoffman said. He said her vehicle proceeded west and rear-ended a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, pushing it into the eastbound lane, where it collided with a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

Police described the scene as an absolute and complete tragedy.

Multiple police and fire departments throughout the county responded to the scene, which included a vehicle on its top, a smoking vehicle and cars sandwiched together, police said.

The driver of the Grand Am, 18-year-old Zachary Bingham of Maple Park, was reportedly taken to Delnor Hospital. He was later flown to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, where police said he was pronounced dead.

The passenger in his car, 19-year-old Erin Pazin of Elburn, was taken to Delnor Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Hoffman said.

The driver of the 2012 Malibu, Kevin Kull of Sugar Grove, his passenger, Nadia Kull, 48, also of Sugar Grove, and the driver of the 2008 Malibu, Ryan Anderson of Sycamore, were also taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

"This could have been a lot worse," Hoffman said, noting Liston's speed and the number of cars that use Route 38.

Police said Liston was driving with a suspended license and that the 2003 Nissan Altima she was driving had been reported stolen out of Wheaton.

Authorities have not determined whether alcohol played a role in the accident.

The Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident.